Grain-bin.



No; 638,280. Patented near 5, I899. n. A. nosmsou & M. TDLTZ.

GRAIN BIN.

(Application filed June 12, 1897.)

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No. 638,280. Patented Dec. 5, I899.

- n. A. nosmsou & m. TOLTZ.

GRAIN BIN.

(Application filed. June 12, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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DIGHTON A. ROBINSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, AND MAX TOLTZ, OF ST. PAUL,

MINNESOTA.

GRAIN- -BIN'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,280, dated December 5, less. Application filed June 12, 1897. Serial No. 640,581. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we,DIeHroN A. ROBINSON, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, and MAX TOLTZ, of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Grain-Bins, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to grain-bins, and particularly to the construction of iron or steel bins for grain-elevators. Where iron or steel bins have heretofore been used, much difficulty has been experienced in supporting them properly.

The objects of our invention are to provide a desirable support for cylindrical metallic grain-bins, to provide a suitable bottom for such bins, and to dispense with the tall 001- umns heretofore employed as additional supports for the bins or tanks.

With these ends in view our invention consists generally in the combination, with the bin or tank, of a suitable elevated circular girder whereon the bin or tank rests and is supported. I

The invention consists, further, in a substantially hemispherical bottom for the bin or tank.

The invention consists, further, in the construct-ion of the bin or tank and in the combinations hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of two grain-bins embodying our invention, one thereof being shown in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the circular girders and the manner of attaching the bottoms of the bins thereto. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of abutting sections of the bin and the band by which the same are connected; and Fig. 4. is a perspective view showing the columns, the circular girder supported thereon, and the hemispherical bottom supported by said girder.

As shown in the drawings, each bin is preferably made up of a series of annular sections 2, the lower edge of one section resting upon the upper edge of the next lower section and every two sections being united by a band or hoop 3, bolted or riveted thereto and covering the joint between the sections. The round heads of the rivets or bolts are preferably put on the inside of the tank. There is thus no fitting of one section into another, and the inner surface of the bin or tank is substantially smooth and without shoulders or projections to interfere with the fall or drop of the grain in the bin. The bin has a substantially hemispherical bottom 4, made of formed plates 5, preferably lapping upon one anotherin order. The hemispherical form of the bottom is preferably maintained down to a point where a line drawn at an angle of thirty degrees through the axis of the bin would intersect the hemisphere. Down to this point the inclination of the walls of the bottom is preferably at all points greater than thirty degrees to the horizontal, and from this point to the lower end the bottom has a conical form, the cone being pitched substantially thirty degrees to the horizontal. The bottom is provided with a discharge-opening 7. The hemispherical bottom is preferably of the same size at the top as the cylindrical portion of the tank, so thata shoulder or ledge is avoided. The support for the bottom and for the upper part of the tank or bin preferably encircles the joint between the bottom and said upper part and comprises a circular girder 8, having in cross-section the form of an inverted-T beam. The vertical web 9 of the girder preferably extends upwardly beyond the lower edge of the last cylinder-section, and the lower edge of said section and the upper edge of the hemispherical bottom are riveted or otherwise secured to the upper edge of the circular girder. The fastenings are strengthened by the use of angle-iron bands 10 and 11, through which the rivets pass. The girder is preferably built up of a number of sections 12, having outwardly-extending flanges 13, and the baseof the girder has wide flanges 14, preferably formed by the angle-irons, which are riveted to the lower edge of the sections 12. As an additional sup-' port for the bottom, we may provide the depending angle-plates 16, resting upon the flange of the girder and riveted to the sides of the bottom. The circular girder is supported in an elevated position by three or more short columns 17, having flat tops 18, and two girders of adjoining bins may rest upon the top of each column,as shown in Fig. 1.

As the vertical web 9 of the girder extends above the upper edge of the bottom it permits the lower end of the cylindrical wall of the tank to be secured to said girder, so that said wall is supported upon said circular girder, While the hemispherical bottom is suspended from said girder.

The grain-bin which we have herein described possesses great utility and advantage over bins as ordinarily constructed. The complete bin forms aunitarystructure capable of being made of any size and mounted upon a single support. The elevated circular girder forms the means for supporting the hemispherical bottom that is suspended therefrom and the cylindrical wall of the bin, which is also secured and rests upon the circular girder. The walls are entirely relieved from the weight of the grain, which, resting upon the hemispherical bottom, is borne entirely by the circular girder. This bin may be constructed of any size and capacity and at very much less cost than ordinary metallic bins.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A metallic grain-storage bin, comprising, in combination, an elevated circular girder and means for supporting said girder, a cylindrical outer wall extending from top to bottom of the bin and having its lower end secured to said circular girder, and a substantially hemispherical bottom having its upper edge secured to said circular girder, whereby said bottom is suspended below said bin for thepurpose set forth.

2. A metallic grain-storage bin, comprising, in combination, a series of upright posts 17,

a circular girder resting upon the upper ends of said posts, a cylindrical outer wall extending from top, to bottom of the bin and having its lower end secured to the upper part of said circular girder, and a substantially hemispherical bottom having its upper edge arranged within and secured to said circular girder, whereby said bottom is suspended below said bin and within said series of posts,- for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, withaseries of upright posts 17, of a circular girder supported upon said posts and provided with a vertical web 9, a cylindrical outer wall having its lower end arranged within and secured to the upper part of said vertical web 9, and the substantially hemispherical bottom having its upper edge also arranged within and secured to said vertical web 9, wherebysaid bottom is suspended beneath said bin and within said series of posts, for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, withaseries of upright posts 17, of two or more circular girders arranged upon and supported by said posts, each of said posts furnishing a support for two of said girders, cylindrical outer walls arranged upon and secured to said girders, and substantiallyhemisphericalbottoms suspended from said circular girders, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3d day of June, A. D. 1897.

- DIGHTON A. ROBINSON.

In presence of- HOBART WILD, S. L. CARHART. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of May, A. D. 1897.

MAX TOLTZ. In presence of-- C. G. HAWLEY, M. E. GooLEv. 

